World Health Organization or WHO is appealing to countries in their respond to Corona virus not to allow the pandemic to cover up other health issues.
In a press release seen by CRN, WHO warns that public health systems in Africa are coming under severe strain as the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic persists.
It calls on countries battling to contain the outbreak, to put efforts to react to other health emergencies such as malaria and polio.
WHO recalls that ‘Prior to the arrival of the novel coronavirus in Africa, WHO was stressing the need for countries to ensure the continuity of routine essential health services. An overburdened health system not only undermines the effectiveness of the response to COVID-19 but may also undermine the response to a whole host of preventable threats to human health. Even brief interruptions of vaccination make outbreaks more likely to occur, putting children and other vulnerable groups more at risk of life-threatening diseases’.
‘I urge all countries to not lose focus on their gains made in health as they adapt to tackle this new threat. We saw with the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa that we lost more people to malaria, for instance than, we lost to the Ebola outbreak. Let us not repeat that with COVID-19’, says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Dr Moeti warns that the consequences of disrupting efforts to control malaria in Africa could be particularly grave.
WHO Regional Director for Africa confirms that the COVID-19 cases in Africa continue to rise; exceeding 25,000.